S5368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 25, 2012 

Sally Ride’s historic space flight riveted the Nation and made her a household name—a symbol of women’s ability to break barriers and achieve any 

goal, no matter how lofty. She immediately understood and appreciated her 

place in history, crediting the women’s 

movement of the 1970s with paving her 

way into the space program. 

Dr. Ride made another space flight in 

1984 and was preparing for a third when 

the Challenger exploded shortly after 

takeoff on January 28, 1986. She served 

on the Presidential commission investigating the Challenger tragedy and 

worked at NASA headquarters as special assistant to the administrator before retiring from NASA in 1987. 

After serving as a science fellow at 

Stanford’s Center for International Security and Arms Control, Dr. Ride 

joined the faculty at the University of 

California, San Diego as a physics professor and director of the California 

Space Institute. 

In 2001 she founded Sally Ride 

Science to create educational programs 

that entertain, engage, and inspire 

young people. She served on the President’s Committee of Advisors on 

Science and Technology, the National 

Research Council’s Space Studies 

Board, and the boards of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, the Carnegie Institution of 

Washington, and the NCAA Foundation. 

Sally Ride pushed the limits of 

knowledge, courage, and accomplishment for all Americans, especially for 

girls and young women. As a pioneer in 

the final frontier of space, she showed 

millions of American girls that there 

was truly no limit on what they can do 

or where they can go. 

On behalf of the people of California, 

who have been so moved and inspired 

by Sally Ride’s life and legacy, I send 

my deepest appreciation and condolences to her partner of 27 years, Tam 

O’Shaughnessy; her mother, Joyce; her 

sister, Bear; her niece, Caitlin; and her 

nephew, Whitney. 

f 

CHRISTENING OF THE USS 

SOMERSET 

Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, this 

Saturday, July 28, 2012, the U.S. Navy 

will perform a christening ceremony in 

New Orleans for the future USS Somerset. The USS Somerset is a special 

ship, bearing the name of the Southwest Pennsylvania county where 

United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on 

September 11, 2001. 

On that infamous day, a group of defiant and determined Americans challenged a group of al-Qaida hijackers 

hell bent on crashing the plane into the 

U.S. Capitol, the White House, or another sensitive DC-area target. The 

terrorists’ goal was not achieved, 

thanks to the bravery of the Americans 

onboard. We will never forget their actions in the face of horror. 

The USS Somerset will serve as an ongoing emblem of their heroism as it 

races to the aid of our friends and defends American liberty against our 

foes. This ship also embodies the American spirit local Pennsylvanians demonstrated shortly after the crash, when 

they raised the Stars and Stripes atop 

a dragline near the crash site as an unforgettable symbol of our country’s resolve during a time of national sorrow. 

Wherever the USS Somerset goes, so 

will a piece of southwest Pennsylvania. 

The bow of the ship includes steel from 

the dragline adjacent to the crash site 

in Stonycreek Township, where it was 

a silent witness to an indelible act of 

American courage and strength in defiance of those who would do us harm. 

I wish the U.S. Navy and the future 

crew of the USS Somerset safe travels 

and successful missions defending 

America and freedom worldwide. 

f 

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS 

TRIBUTE TO DR. NEOSHA A. 

MACKEY 

∑ Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, today I 

wish to honor Neosha A. Mackey, who 

retired earlier this summer as dean of 

university libraries at Missouri State 

University after 27 years of service. 

During her years of dedicated service, 

Mackey oversaw the expansion of the 

Meyer Library to meet the needs of the 

academic community with improved 

access to local archives, manuscripts 

and photographs. The MSU library system also improved its access to other 

research materials with a Special Collections and Archives section available 

to internet users that was previously 

only accessible to view at the MSU Library. 

Mackey started at Missouri State as 

the head of reference in 1985. Later she 

served as associate dean of library 

services, 1987–2009; acting dean, 1993– 

1995, and was appointed dean of library 

services in 2009. 

During her tenure, the library enhanced services with a $28 million addition and renovation project. Mackey 

has also been a presence in the classroom teaching both undergraduate and 

graduate level courses while monitoring budgets and coordinating personnel matters. As Missouri State 

reached out to establish programs and 

classes for students in China, Mackey 

and her husband John took a leadership role in the development of those 

programs. 

Mackey also directed an expansion of 

the Meyer Library’s local archives and 

collections with a loan agreement to 

house, preserve, and provide access to 

manuscripts and photographs owned by 

The History Museum for SpringfieldGreene County. The History Museum 

holds a comprehensive collection of 

photographs and personal documents 

capturing decades of history and 

changing cultures in Springfield and 

Greene Counties. The new campus location promises improved access for researchers and the general public as 

well as a safer climate- and temperature-controlled location for these 

priceless archives. 

Before arriving at Missouri State, 

Mackey was at the Ohio State University from 1978–1985 as personnel librarian and head of the home economics library. She served as assistant to the 

dean, 1975–1977, and as head of the Parish Business Library, 1970–1975, at the 

University of New Mexico. Mackey has 

a bachelor of arts in economics and a 

master’s in library science from the 

University of Oklahoma and an MBA 

from the University of New Mexico. 

Mackey’s achievements and her personal commitment to excellence have 

guided the Missouri State Library program to a place of national prominence. I thank her for her efforts and 

wish her well in her well-deserved retirement.∑ 

f 

2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 

∑ Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I rise 

today to commend three Vermonters 

who will be representing the United 

States in the Olympic Games in London. One hundred years ago Albert 

Gutterson of Springfield, VT, won 

Olympic Gold in the broad jump. This 

year, Lea Davison, Trevor Moore and 

Andrew Wheating are the latest in a 

long line of Vermonters to compete in 

the world’s most prestigious athletic 

competition. 

Lea Davison won the first mountain 

bike race she ever entered when she 

was 17 years old. A native of Jericho, 

VT, Lea competed in cross country and 

was a Division I alpine ski racer at 

Middlebury College before becoming 

the youngest woman to join the professional mountain biking tour. Lea has 

become one of the dominant forces in 

professional women’s mountain biking 

but still takes time to give back to the 

community, running a summer camp 

for girls from Vermont who are interested in cycling. 

Trevor Moore began sailing with his 

father and brother at a very young age. 

When he moved to North Pomfret, VT, 

as a teenager his passion for competition led him to play for Woodstock 

Union High’s tennis and soccer teams. 

At Hobart College, Trevor was an accomplished sailor and a three-time All 

American, in addition to being named 

the 2007 College Sailor of the Year. He 

will be competing with Erik Storck in 

the 49er category in London. 

London will mark Andrew 

Wheating’s second Olympic Games. He 

competed for the track team in the 800 

meter race at the Beijing Olympics in 

2008. Andrew is originally from Norwich, VT. Recruited by the University 

of Oregon, he was the NCAA champion 

in the 800 meters in 2009 and 2010 and in 

the 1600 meters in 2010. Andrew is renowned for his ability to come from behind in races and will be competing in 

the 1600 meters in London. 

Vermont is proud of Lea, Trevor, and 

Andrew, and I and the citizens of my 

State wish them the best of luck at the 

2012 Olympic Games.∑ 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE